Electric soldering iron



March 19, 1946. F. D. McCULLY 2,396,799

ELECTRI C SOLDERING IRON Filed Feb. 28. 1944 Inventor B Emma.

Patented Mar. 19, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT'IOFFICEI ELECTRIC SOLDERINGIRON Frank D. McCully, Joseph, Oreg.

Application February 28, 1944, Serial No. 524,265

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in electricsoldering irons of the gun type, and has for its primary object toprovide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of thischaracter comprising a novel construction and arrangement whereby thesolder will be heated to the meltin point substantially instantaneously.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an electric soldering ironof the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use,compact, light in weight, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing, and still further objects and advantages of theinvention, will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing whereinlike characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of an electric soldering ironconstructed in accordance with the present invention with portionsbroken away in section.

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the device.

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section, taken substantially on theline 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail view in side elevation of the solder feeder with aportion broken away in section.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a tubeor barrel I of suitable length, diameter and material. Depending fromthe rear end portion of the barrel I and communicating therewith is ahollow pistol-gio handle 2. Mounted transversely on the rear end of thebarrel I and communicating therewith is a cylindrical magazine 3 havinga removable cap 4 On one end. A reel 5 is rotatably mounted in themagazine 3.

The hollow handle 2 accommodates a transformer B. A conductor cord I isprovided for connecting the transformer 6 to an electric receptaclethrough the medium of a conventional plug 8 on said cord. Also connectedto the transformer 6 is a ground wire 9. A clip I0 is provided forconnecting the ground wire 9 to the work.

Mounted longitudinally in the forward end portion of the barrel I is anelement ll of substantially circular cross section, said element beingof chrome steel or other suitable metal. The element Il includes atapered forward end portion or nose I2 which projects beyond the barrelI. A wire I3 electrically connects the transformer 6 to the element II.

A length of solder I4 is wound on the reel 5 in the magazine 3. Thesolder I4 is threaded or inserted through the barrel I and passeslongitudinally over the element II to project from the forward end ofsaid barrel. groove I5 in the upper portion of the element II slidablyaccommodates the solder I4. A guide I6 in the upper portion of thebarrel I, at its forward end, retains the solder I4 in the groove I5.

Pivotally mounted in the lower portion of the barrel I adjacent thehandle 2 is a finger lever or trigger ll. Pivotally mounted on the upperend portion of the trigger Il for operation in the barrel I is a pawl I8for feeding the solder I4. Toward this end, the pawl I8 comprises, onone end, an upstanding segmental guide I9 through which the solder I4passes. A tooth 20 in the guide I9 is adapted to bite into the solder I4for feeding said solder forwardly in the barrel I. A spring 2I isconnected to the other end'of the pawl I8 for maintaining same inengagement with the solder I4 and for returning the trigger IT. Aspring-loaded dog 22 in the barrel I forwardly of the trigger I1 isadapted to bite into the solder I4 for securing said solder againstreverse movement.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparentfrom a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the plug 8 is insertedin a suitable electric receptacle and the clip I0 is applied to thework. The projecting forwardend of the solder I4 is then contacted withthe work for completing the circuit. When this occurs, the electriccurrent flows through the transformer 6, the conductor wire l3, theelement II and the solder I4 to the work and substantially immediatelyheats said solder [4 to the melting point. The nose I2 of the element IImay, if desired, be used for spreading or flattening the solder. Byactuating the trigger H with the finger of the hand which grips thehandle 2, the solder I4 may be fed forwardly through the barrel I as itis needed.

It is believed that the many advantages of an electric soldering ironconstructed in accordance with the present invention will be readilyunderstood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is asillustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in thedetails of construction and in the combination and arrangement of partsmay be resorted to which will A longitudinal fall within the scope ofthe invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric soldering iron comprising a co lindrical one piecebarrel, a hollow handle de pending from one end portion oi the barreland communicating therewith, a mage on said one end of the barrel andcommunicating therewith, a reel rotataloly mounted in the magazine, alength of solder wound on the reel with an end portion extendinglongitudinally through the barrel, a metallic element of substantiallyctrcular cross section mounted longitudinally in the forward end portionof the barrel and tenni mating with a pointed.- nose projecting forwardthrough the barrel, a longitudinal groove in the upper portion oi saidelement slidahiy accoin= modating the solder from said reel, a transformer mounted in the handle and electrically connected to the elementfor heating the same, means for connecting the transformer to a sourceof current, a ground wire connected to the transformer, and means formanually feeding the solder longitudinally through the barrel, saidfeeding means consisting of a trigger pivoted in front oi said handle, apawl mounted to rock on the trigger and provided with a segmental saddlein which the solder rides in passing through the barrel, a tooth in saidsaddle and means causing said tooth to grip the solder; whereby uponsaid trigger lacing pressed said pawl will cause iorward motion of saidsolder in direction of said nose,

Bil

aaoarao' 2. An electric soldering iron comprising a cylindrical onepiece barrel, a hollow handle depending from one end portion of thebarrel and communicating therewith, a magazine on said one end oi thebarrel and communicating therewith, a reel rotatably mounted in themagazine, a length of solder wound on the reel with an end portionextending longitudinally through the barrel, a metallic element ofsubstantially circular cross section mounted longitudinally inltheforward end portion of the barrel and terminating with a pointed noseprojecting forward through the barrel, a I longitudinal groove in theupper portion of said element slidahly accommodating the solder fromsaid reel, a transformer mounted in the handle and electricallyconnected to the element for heating the same, means for connecting thetransformer to a source of current, a ground wire connected to thetransformer, and means for manually feeding the solder longitudinallythrough the barrel, and friction means for preventing reverse. motion ofthe solder, said feeding means consisting of a trigger pivoted in frontof said handle a pawl mounted to rock on the trigger and provided with asegmented saddle in which the solder rides in passing through thebarrel, a tooth in said saddle and means causing said tooth to grip thesolder, whereby upon said trigger being pressed said pawl will causeforward motion of said solder in direction of said nose.

FRANK D. LMCCULLY;

